Aerosol Generation Device and Consumable Article with Thermal Properties Recognition

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an aerosol generation device and a consumable article. In particular, the invention relates to an aerosol generation device with an electrical interface for connecting with an electrical interface of the consumable article for determining the thermal properties of a heat transfer element of the consumable article. The aerosol generation device includes a heating element having a contacting surface providing a thermal interface, circuitry and an electrical interface. The electrical interface of the aerosol generation device is configured to be electrically connected with an electrical interface of the consumable article when the consumable article is connected to the aerosol generation device such that an electrical circuit is formed between the circuitry of the aerosol generation device and an electrical interface of the consumable article. The aerosol generation device is further configured to obtain a temperature of the heat transfer element by means of the electrical circuit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an aerosol generation device and a consumable article for use with the aerosol generation device. In particular, the invention relates to an aerosol generation device with an electrical interface for connecting with an electrical interface of the consumable article for determining the thermal properties of a heat transfer element of the consumable article.

BACKGROUND

An aerosol generation device configured to be used with a consumable article, such as an e-liquid cartridge, generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating substrate contained in the consumable article. Some configurations employ a heating element which is provided in the consumable article next to the aerosol generating substrate, and the temperature of the heating element in the consumable article is measured for controlling power supplied to the heating element. This offers a relatively accurate determination of the heat transferred to the aerosol generating substrate. The disadvantage is increased manufacturing costs because a heating element needs to be provided with each consumable article.

Other configurations provide the heating element in the aerosol generating device, and the aerosol generating substrate is heated via a heat transfer element provided in the consumable article that transfers heat from the heating element to the aerosol generating substrate. Also, in this configuration, the temperature of the heating element is measured for controlling power supplied to the heating element for controlling the temperature of the aerosol generating substrate. While this configuration eliminates the need for a heating element provided in the consumable article, thus saving costs, it leads to a less accurate determination of the temperature of the heat transfer element and thus the aerosol generating substrate.

Therefore, there is a need for an aerosol generating device and a consumable that afford a more accurate determination of the temperature of the aerosol generating substrate in the consumable with reduced costs and manufacturing complexities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above objective is solved by the invention as defined by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined by the sub-features of the dependent claims.

A first aspect of the invention is an aerosol generation device comprising a heating element having a contacting surface providing a thermal interface, circuitry and an electrical interface, the aerosol generation device configured to be connected to a consumable article, the consumable article comprising a heat transfer element configured to be heated by contacting the heating element at its thermal interface, an aerosol generation substrate configured to be heated by the heat transfer element, and an electrical interface in connection with the heat transfer element, wherein the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device is configured to be electrically connected with electrical interface of the consumable article when the consumable article is connected to the aerosol generation device such that an electrical circuit is formed between the circuitry of the aerosol generation device and the electrical interface of the consumable article, and wherein the aerosol generation device is configured to obtain the temperature of the heat transfer element by means of the electrical circuit.

The heating element may comprise or consist of more than one component. In particular, the heating element may comprise a separate thermal interface for contacting the thermal interface of the consumable article. Formation of an electrical circuit between the circuitry of the aerosol generation device and the electrical interface of the consumable article means in particular that an electrical circuit is formed between the electrical circuitry of the aerosol generation device and electrical circuitry of the consumable article, more particularly between the electrical circuitry of the aerosol generation device and the heat transfer element of the consumable article. Herein, the expression “circuitry” is to be understood to encompass active as well as passive components, wherein active or passive components may comprise or consist of any one of resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, conductive wires, printed circuit boards, or any suitable combination thereof.

The connection between the thermal interfaces affords a secure and stable thermal connection for transferring heat generated by the heating element in the aerosol generation device to the heat transfer element in the consumable article and subsequently to the aerosol generating substrate, so that the consumable article does not need to be provided with a heating element. The connection between the electrical interfaces affords a secure and stable electrical connection so that the temperature of the heat transfer element can be reliably provided to the aerosol generation device. Obtaining the temperature of the heat transfer element rather than the heating element provides the aerosol generation device with a more accurate means of determining the temperature of the aerosol generation substrate due to the proximity of the heat transfer element to the aerosol generating substrate. Additionally, depending on the type of the aerosol generating substrate, the determined temperature, in particular an increase of the temperature of the heat transfer element, in particular an increase above certain temperatures, may be used as an indication that the aerosol generating substrate is depleted.

According to a second aspect, in the preceding aspect, the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device is configured to mechanically connect with the electrical interface of the consumable article to releasably secure the consumable article to the aerosol generation device. By additionally serving the function of establishing a secure mechanical connection between the aerosol generation device and the consumable article, the manufacturing complexity can be reduced and the connection between the aerosol generation device and the consumable article can be ensured to achieve a stable electrical and thermal connection between the aerosol generation device and the consumable article.

According to a third aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device comprises one or more second electrical connectors complementary to one or more corresponding first electrical connectors of the consumable article. The electrical and the mechanical connections may be achieved by means of any suitable electrical connectors.

According to a fourth aspect, in the preceding aspect, the one or more first and second electrical connectors of the aerosol generation device and the consumable article comprise one or more pogo pins and one or more complementary pogo pin receptables, and/or vice versa. In this manner, the mechanical connection of the consumable article to the aerosol generation device as well as the stability of the electrical connection of the aerosol generation device with the heat transfer element can be releasably secured. By using one or more electrical connectors on the aerosol generation device and corresponding electrical connectors on the consumable article, a stable electrical connection can be established. In particular, the use of pogo pins and pogo pin receptacles provides a strong, releasable mechanical connection as well as a stable and secure electrical connection.

According to a fifth aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the electrical circuit is configured such that the electrical resistance of the heat transfer element can be measured in the aerosol generation device. This affords a simple way for the aerosol generation device to obtain the temperature of the heat transfer element.

According to a sixth aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the consumable article is configured to determine the temperature or the resistance of the heat transfer element and the electrical circuit is configured to transmit signals representative of the temperature or the resistance of the heat transfer element. Depending on the setup of the aerosol generation device and/or the consumable article, it may be advantageous to first determine the temperature or the resistance of the heat transfer element corresponding to the temperature of the heat transfer element in the consumable article, and to subsequently transmit signals representative of temperature or the resistance corresponding to the temperature of the heat transfer element to the aerosol generation device. Transmitting signals representative of the temperature or the resistance may comprise transmitting the determined value of the temperature and/or the determined value of the resistance as information, and/or transmitting the detected electrical signals when measuring the resistance of the heat transfer element to the aerosol generation device so that the temperature can be determined in the aerosol generation device instead of in the consumable article.

According to a seventh aspect, in the preceding aspect, the consumable article comprises a temperature sensor configured for determining the temperature of the heat transfer element. Employing a dedicated temperature sensor allows an accurate determination of the temperature of the heating element.

According to an eighth aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the aerosol generation device is configured for controlling the power supplied to the heating element based on the temperature of the heat transfer element obtained by the aerosol generation device. This affords a more accurate control of the aerosol generation device because the temperature of the heat transfer element is more representative of the temperature of the aerosol generating substrate than the temperature of the heating element.

According to a ninth aspect, in the preceding aspect, the power control is based on a predetermined threshold temperature. This allows the temperature of the aerosol generating substrate to be controlled to be within a certain temperature range, or to not exceed a certain temperature limit. The threshold temperature may be predetermined based on a specific temperature limit above which damage to the aerosol generation device, the consumable article and/or a user of the aerosol generation device and the consumable article is to be expected, for example in case of a malfunction. Depending on the type of substrate, the specific temperature limit may be set to correspond to a state of the consumable article in which the aerosol generating substrate contained therein is depleted.

According to a tenth aspect, in any of one of the ninth to the tenth aspects, controlling the power supplied to the heating element comprises turning the heating element on or off and/or adjusting amount of power supplied to the heating element.

An eleventh aspect of the invention is a consumable article for use with an aerosol generation device comprising a heating element having a contact surface forming a thermal interface, circuitry and an electrical interface, the consumable article comprising a heat transfer element configured to be heated by the heating element of the aerosol generation device by contacting the heating element at its thermal interface, an aerosol generation substrate configured to be heated by the heat transfer element, and an electrical interface to be electrically connected with the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device when the consumable article is connected to the aerosol generation device such that an electrical circuit is formed between the electrical interface of the consumable article and an circuitry of the aerosol generation device, and the aerosol generation device is enabled to obtain the temperature of the heat transfer element by means of the electrical circuit.

The heat transfer element may comprise or consist of more than one component, in particular the heat transfer element may comprise a separate thermal interface for contacting the thermal interface of the aerosol generation device. The advantages of this aspect are analogous to the advantages of the first aspect.

According to a twelfth aspect, in the preceding aspect, the electrical interface of the consumable article is configured to mechanically connect with the electrical interface of the consumable article to releasably secure the consumable article to the aerosol generation device. The advantages of this aspect are analogous to the advantages of the second aspect.

According to a thirteenth aspect, in any one of the eleventh or the twelfth aspects, the electrical interface of the consumable article comprises one or more second electrical connectors complementary to one or more corresponding first electrical connectors of the consumable article. The advantages of this aspect are analogous to the advantages of the third aspect.

According to a fourteenth aspect, in the preceding aspect, the one or more first and second electrical connectors of the aerosol generation device and the consumable article comprise one or more pogo pins and one or one or more complementary pogo pin receptables, and/or vice versa. The advantages of this aspect are analogous to the advantages of the fourth aspect.

According to a fifteenth aspect, in any one of the eleventh to the fourteenth aspects, the electrical interface of the consumable article is integrally formed with the heat-transfer element. This reduces the manufacturing costs and complexity by reducing the number of required parts.

According to a sixteenth aspect, in any one of the eleventh to the fifteenth aspect, the heat-transfer element comprises or is made of a metal, a metal alloy, or a heat conductive ceramic. These materials afford a good heat transfer between the heating element of the aerosol generation device and the aerosol generating substrate.

According to a seventeenth aspect, in any one of eleventh to the sixteenth aspects, the consumable article is configured to determine the temperature or the resistance of the heat transfer element and the electrical circuit is configured to transmit signals representative of the temperature or the resistance of the heat transfer element.

According to an eighteenth aspect, in the preceding aspect, the consumable article comprises a temperature sensor configured for determining the temperature of the heat transfer element. Employing a dedicated temperature sensor allows an accurate determination of the temperature of the heating element.

A nineteenth aspect of the invention is a system comprising an aerosol generating device according to anyone of the first aspect to the tenth aspect, and a consumable article according to any one of the eleventh aspect to the eighteenth aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an aerosol generation device and a consumable article for us with the aerosol generation device, according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an aerosol generation device and a consumable article connected to the consumable article, according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows an electrical connector of the consumable article and a respective electrical connector of the aerosol generation device, according to embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of invention are described hereinafter and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , an aerosol generation device ₁₀₀ comprises a heating element ₁₂₀ that is configured for heating a thermal interface ₁₁₀ of the aerosol generation device. The aerosol generation device further comprises an electrical interface ₁₃₀ and circuitry ₁₄₀ connected with the electrical interface ₁₃₀.

The consumable article ₂₀₀ comprises a thermal interface ₂₁₀ that is configured to transfer heat to a heat transfer element ₂₂₀. The thermal interface ₂₁₀ and the heat transfer element ₂₂₀ may be formed integrally together and/or formed as a single component. The heat transfer element ₂₂₀ is configured to transfer heat to an aerosol generating substrate ₂₅₀. Additionally, an electrical interface ₂₃₀, and circuitry that is connected with the electrical interface ₂₃₀ are provided with the consumable article. The circuitry may be connected with the heat transfer element ₂₂₀. Depending on the type of consumable article and the aerosol generating substrate contained therein, the heat transfer element ₂₂₀ may be provided adjacent to the aerosol generating substrate ₂₅₀. In case of a liquid aerosol generating substrate, the liquid may be adsorbed on an absorbing element such as a mousse or solid foam pad or the like at least partially in contact with the heat transfer element ₂₂₀ such that heat can be transferred to the pad and liquid adsorbed therein by conduction and/or convection to evaporate it. Preferably, the absorbing element may be arranged in an evaporation chamber arranged between the aerosol generation substrate 250 reservoir and the heat transfer element 220 as disclosed in WO 2017179043 A1.

The thermal interface 110 of the aerosol generation device and the thermal interface 210 of the consumable article are configured to connect with each other such that a thermal bridge between the heating element 120 of the aerosol generation device and the heat transfer element 220 may be formed that allows heat to be transferred from the heating element 120 to the thermal interface 110 of the aerosol generation device, then to the thermal interface 210 of the consumable article, then to the heat transfer element 220, and finally to the aerosol generating substrate. It should be noted that while the thermal interfaces 110 and 210 of the aerosol generation device and consumable article are shown in FIG. 1 as independent or separate parts of the heating element 120 and heat transfer element 220, respectively, such representation shall not be interpreted as limitative and shall also encompass any realisation where the thermal interfaces 110/210 are designed integrally, i.e. as an integral part, of heating element 120 and of heat transfer element 220, respectively, or separately therefrom, i.e. as heat conducting members arranged in contact with the heating element on the one end and with the heat transfer element on the other hand.

The electrical interface 130 of the aerosol generation device and the electrical interface 230 of the consumable article are configured to connect with each other, such that an electrical circuit may be formed. The formed electrical circuit may comprise the circuitry 140 of the aerosol generation device such that the circuitry 140 can connect the electrical interface 230 of the consumable to determine the temperature of the heat transfer element ₂₂₀. The consumable article may comprise a suitable temperature sensor configured for determining the temperature of the heat transfer element ₂₂₀. Additionally, or alternatively, the heat transfer element 220 may be configured such that the temperature of the heat transfer element 220 may be determined based on an electric property of the heat transfer element, in particular based on a detected temperature dependent electric resistance of the heat transfer element. The heat transfer element 220 may comprise one or more materials, each material having a well-known and suitable temperature coefficient of resistance and/or a well-defined temperature dependent resistance characteristic. This may be achieved by the consumable article 200 determining the temperature of the heat transfer element 220 via the temperature sensor in the consumable article 200 and subsequently transmitting the determined temperature as information to the aerosol generation substrate via the electrical circuit. Additionally, or alternatively, this may be achieved by the consumable article 200 determining the temperature of the heat transfer element 220 based on a detected temperature dependent electric resistance of the heat transfer element and subsequently transmitting the determined temperature as information to the aerosol generation substrate via the electric circuit. Additionally, or alternatively, the consumable article 200 may transmit the detected electric signals for determining the temperature dependent resistance of the heat transfer element 220 to the aerosol generation device 100 via the electric circuit, and the aerosol generation device 100 may determine the temperature of the heat transfer element based on the transmitted the detected electric signals. Additionally, or alternatively, the consumable article 200 may transmit detected signals of the temperature sensor to the aerosol generation device 100 via the electric circuit, and the aerosol generation device 100 may subsequently determine the temperature of the heat transfer element 220 based on the detected signals of the temperature sensor.

The aerosol generation device 200 may be configured to control the power supplied to the heating element 120 based on the determined temperature of the heat transfer element ₂₂₀. The supplied power may be controlled by adjusting the level of power supplied, or by turning the supplied power on or off. Additionally, the power supplied may be controlled based on the determined temperature and one or more predetermined threshold temperatures. Power supplied to the heating element 120 may be controlled, and/or the one or more predetermined threshold temperatures may be configured such that a certain temperature or temperature range of heat transfer element may be achieved. Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more threshold temperatures may be configured such that a certain temperature limit of the heat transfer element is not exceeded to prevent damage to the aerosol generation device or the consumable article. Such a case may arise if the heating element, the aerosol generation device or the consumable article malfunction or if the aerosol generating substrate 250 in the consumable article 200 is depleted and the heat transferred from the heating element 120 to the heat transfer element 220 is consequently not used for generating aerosol.

When connected to each other, the electrical interface 130 of the aerosol generation device 100 and the electrical interface 230 of the consumable article 200 may further form a mechanical connection that releasably secures the consumable article 200 to the aerosol generation device 100 to provide a stable mechanical, electrical and thermal connection. This may be achieved by one or more electrical connectors 131 provided with the electrical interface 130 of the aerosol generation device 100 and by one or more electrical connectors 231 provided with the electrical interface 230 of the consumable article 200 that may be counterconnectors to electrical connectors of the one or more electrical connectors 131 of the consumable article. The one or more connectors 131 connect with the corresponding one or more counterconnectors 231 to form the mechanical connection. The number of connectors 131 may be the same or different from the number of counterconnectors 231. The one or more electrical connectors 131 of the aerosol generation device may comprise connectors of a male and/or female type, and the one or more electrical counterconnectors 231 of the consumable article may comprise corresponding connectors of the corresponding female and/or male type. Additionally, the one or more electrical connectors 131 and counterconnectors 231 may comprise connectors and corresponding counterconnectors of different types.

As shown in FIG. 3 , one or more electrical connectors 131 of an electrical interface of an aerosol generation device, which may be an electrical interface 130 of an aerosol generation device 100 as described in the context of FIG. 1 and ₂, may comprise one or more pogo pins or similar electrical connectors, and one or more electrical counterconnectors 231 of an electrical interface of a consumable article, which may be an electrical interface 230 of a consumable article 200 as described in the context of FIGS. 1 and 2 , may comprise one or more pogo pin receptacles or counterconnectors, or vice versa. Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more electrical connectors 131 and the one or more counterconnectors 231 may comprise connectors and/or counterconnectors that, instead of including a male and female type, rotatably connect with each other to releasably secure the consumable article 200 to the aerosol generation device 100. Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more electrical connectors 131 and 231 may comprise electrical connectors that connect to each other via magnetic forces.

While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the scope of this disclosure, as defined by the independent and dependent claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   100: aerosol generation device -   110: thermal interface of the device -   120: heating element of the device -   130: electrical interface of the device -   131: electric connector of the device -   140: circuitry of the device -   200: consumable article -   210 thermal interface of the consumable article -   220: heat transfer element of the consumable article -   230: electrical interface of the consumable article -   231: electrical connector of the consumable article -   250: aerosol generating substrate 

1. An aerosol generation device comprising: a heating element having a contacting surface providing a thermal interface; electrical circuitry; and an electrical interface, wherein the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device is configured to be electrically connected to an electrical interface of a consumable article when the consumable article is connected to the aerosol generation device such that an electrical circuit is formed between the electrical circuitry of the aerosol generation device and the electrical interface of the consumable article, and wherein the aerosol generation device is configured to obtain a temperature of a heat transfer element of the consumable article by means of the electrical circuit.
 2. The aerosol generation device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device is configured to mechanically connect with the electrical interface of the consumable article to releasably secure the consumable article to the aerosol generation device.
 3. The aerosol generation device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device comprises one or more second electrical connectors complementary to one or more corresponding first electrical connectors of the consumable article.
 4. The aerosol generation device according to claim 3, wherein the one or more first and second electrical connectors of the aerosol generation device comprise one or more pogo pins and one or more complementary pogo pin receptables.
 5. The aerosol generation device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit is configured such that an electrical resistance of the heat transfer element of the consumable article can be measured in the aerosol generation device.
 6. The aerosol generation device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol general device is configured to control the power supplied to the heating element based on the temperature of the heat transfer element obtained by the aerosol generation device.
 7. The aerosol generation device according to claim 6, wherein the power control is based on a predetermined threshold temperature.
 8. The aerosol generation device according to claim 6, wherein controlling the power supplied to the heating element comprises turning the heating element on or off and/or adjusting an amount of power supplied to the heating element.
 9. A consumable article for use with an aerosol generation device comprising a heating element having a contact surface forming a thermal interface, and an electrical interface, the consumable article comprising: a heat transfer element configured to be heated by the heating element of the aerosol generation device when contacted by the thermal interface of the heating element; an aerosol generation substrate configured to be heated by the heat transfer element; and an electrical interface electrically connectable with the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device when the consumable article is connected to the aerosol generation device such that an electrical circuit is formed between the electrical interface of the consumable article and an electrical circuitry of the aerosol generation device, thereby enabling the aerosol generation device to obtain a temperature of the heat transfer element by means of the electrical circuit.
 10. The consumable according to claim 9, wherein the electrical interface of the consumable article is configured to mechanically connect with the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device to releasably secure the consumable article to the aerosol generation device.
 11. The consumable article according to claim 9, wherein the electrical interface of the consumable article comprises one or more first electrical connectors or more second electrical connectors corresponding to the one or more first electrical connectors for connecting with the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device.
 12. The consumable article according to claim 11, wherein the one or more first electrical connectors comprise one or more pogo pins and the one or more second electrical connectors comprise one or more pogo pin receptables, and/or vice versa.
 13. The consumable article according to claim 9, wherein the electrical interface of the consumable article is integrally formed in the heat-transfer element.
 14. The consumable article according to claim 9, wherein the heat-transfer element comprises of a metal, a metal alloy, or a heat conductive ceramic.
 15. A system comprising: an aerosol generation device comprising: a heating element having a contacting surface providing a thermal interface; electrical circuitry; and an electrical interface; and a consumable article connectable to the aerosol generation device, the consumable article comprising: a heat transfer element heatable when contacted by the thermal interface of the heating element; an aerosol generation substrate heatable by the heat transfer element; and an electrical interface in connection with the heat transfer element; wherein the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device is configured to be electrically connected with the electrical interface of the consumable article when the consumable article is connected to the aerosol generation device such that an electrical circuit is formed between the electrical circuitry of the aerosol generation device and the electrical interface of the consumable article, and wherein the aerosol generation device is configured to obtain the temperature of the heat transfer element by means of the electrical circuit. 